President ready to accept PSC collective decision - Yapa

Nadira Gunatilleke

The government is always ready to negotiate. This is why President Mahinda Rajapaksa displayed his sincerity by saying he is prepared to accept any collective decision taken by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) in connection with the ethnic issue, Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said yesterday.

Minister Yapa

Minister Yapa said unfortunately the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and other political parties are still dithering.

“I think that in a situation like this, the President’s proposal is the best, because in the PSC, respective political parties can exchange their own opinions and come to an agreement,” he said.

The minister said President Rajapaksa has stated that if political parties come to an agreement at the PSC, he will accept it.

“We held the Eastern PC election in a very democratic way. Last time it was a Tamil Chief Minister and on this occasion it is a Muslim Chief Minister. The TNA also contested and won some seats. I think the PC system is a very good answer for many questions,” Yapa said.

Minister Yapa said the government has promised to hold the Northern PC election.

“Pradeshiya Sabha elections will also be held in due time. This means the government had upheld the democratic system pro-actively in the country for the last 50 years or more. This long - standing democratic practice of holding elections to appoint persons for positions in different power bases will prove that it is much better than using guns to capture power,” he said.